Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots, also known as co-sleepers and bassinets, are designed to let parents sleep close to their children at night, without the risk of SIDS. However they are not recommended for use up to 6 months when your baby is required to move into a cot, or a moses basket.
MFM home tester Mehack was impressed that this model has an adjustable bassinet that you can use in the home and a manual rocking function. It was also easy to put together and came in its own bag for easy storage.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They are less than. They also often convert into toddler beds, whereas the cot beds are typically used up to three years older. If you're considering a wooden cot, there are typically two sizes to choose from - standard and large - both of which can be converted into a cot bed/toddler mattress. Selecting the larger of the two is a good choice if you want your child to sleep in it until the age of approximately three.
Jasmine, an MFM mum who tested the product at home, was pleased that it was a bit bigger than a Moses' basket but still not too big for the baby's room. It's easy to carry her child into and out of the cot for nighttime feeding or soothing, and that the quality is excellent when compared to other cots she's seen that are flimsy.
Emily who is a home tester, loves the flexibility of the Maxi-Cosi lora - it is a lift-off, portable bassinet. It also is a rock. It also comes with an incline of reflux as well as a machine washable liner that breathes. It was also nominated for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. The Lora is a perfect fit for a South African cot mattress unlike many international or European brands. This means you don't need to buy a brand new mattress when your baby grows. However, it requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). You can find the perfect mattress for your cot here.
Height
When selecting a cot for the bed choose one that can be raised up to a height that's comfortable for feeding your baby. It must also be lowered away from the way, so that you can pull your child towards you to feed them at night or soothe him. This feature is especially useful in the event of recovering from a C Section. For instance the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted to a height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma Huddle up to 70cm.
Another thing to consider is the height you would like to set for the cot's base to be. Some moms find it is easier to lift their babies from standard Moses baskets when the base is at the lowest level, while others prefer a higher elevation to give them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular choice and one of our mom testers stating that it has an easy-to-use collapsible side that you can use at the push of the button.
Keep in mind that a bassinet/bedside sleeper should not be used until your baby can hold their head up without assistance typically about 6 months. This is due to the possibility of being suffocated. It is also important to remember that if you choose a bassinet/bedside sleeper that can be converted into a cot it is necessary to start removing the sides when your child is able to do this to ensure they don't climb out or fall out of bed.
Design
There are a variety of cribs for beds with a range of styles from simple to luxurious. The most luxurious models could include features such as a built-in nightlight or a soothing center which plays music and sounds and offers two levels of vibration to help soothe your baby to sleep, or a swivelling base that makes it easier to get your baby's food in the right place. You may also find some models that can be converted to a cot bed or toddler bed (or both) which is ideal when your child is ready to move to a larger bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air, for example, won Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It has a swivelling bottom that lets you take your baby to the crib and transfer them to the opposite side of the crib without having to get out of the bed. This is great for mothers who are recovering from Caesareans, or those who need to stay in bed for extended periods. MFM mom home tester Jasmine was awed by this feature, saying that it was easy to use and made her baby much more manageable - especially after her c-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another alternative. It won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards to be the Best Cot, Moses Basket, or Crib. It has a machine-washable interior, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's bigger than other cribs we tested, but it folds into its travel bag to make it compact when not in use.
MFM mum home tester Leya also liked the functionality of this bedside crib explaining how it was designed with babies and parents in mind. It has a great design that is extremely easy to manoeuvre and it is super-sturdy. travel cot bedside crib said that the swivelling bassinet base was fantastic because it let you move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lower to make access easier for moms who are recovering from C-sections.
Safety
The most important safety aspect of a large bedside cot is that it can be easily adjusted or moved to allow parents to reach their baby when they need to feed them, comfort them or change their nappy. This is why it's perfect for mothers who still recovering from a C section. Choose a model that allows you to lower one side with the push of a button, so you can easily lift your baby without needing to get out of the bed. This is essential, especially as your child grows and becomes more mobile. You should also not add anything to the crib that increases the chance of suffocation or injury, including pillows and duvets. These could cause babies to become overheated.
The NPR of the CPSC NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product issues, such as gaps between a bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) as well as enclosed openings made of fabric (11) and consumer disassembly (6 incidents).
In bedside cot used , the CPSC looked into the possibility of adding additional requirements for sleepers in bed, such as the requirement that they meet the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at least meet the maximum height requirement for the lowered side rail. The CPSC determined, however, that these requirements were not feasible or effective in reducing the amount of instances where infants are trapped by the bedside rail as well as an adult bed.
Many of the incidents reported in the NPR concerned multi-use bedside sleepers which can be converted into other modes, such as bassinets or play yards. Several commenters suggested the CPSC add a second clause to the proposed rule for bedside sleepers with multiple uses which would permit them to meet the minimum side height requirements for bassinets by using an attachment that is removable. Attachments can be permanently fixed or removed when the product is not being used as a baby bassinet.
The CPSC is examining these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR on sleepers who are bedside. The Commission will take into account these comments when voting on the final rule, which is expected to be published in November 2021.